From now until May 25, The Mississippi Museum of Art will display 55 of 500 pieces created during the Mississippi Young Persons Cultural Exchange Program (MS YPCEP). On Saturday April 12, a reception recognized the run as well as its artists. Additionally, the newly printed, Seen Through Our Eyes includes 60 pages of additional selections from the rewarding program.

Over a two-year period, MS YPCEP featured kids and staff from Operation Shoestring, Madison County Cultural Center of Madison, Mississippi Cultural Crossroads of Port Gibson, and Moore Community House of Biloxi. Through several themed projects, art shows, and group retreats, the children gained the enrichment of artistic expression. But these experiences additionally helped them recognize the commonality and individuality they all possess.

Jackson Prep’s chapter of the National Honor Society recently held a canned food drive for Operation Shoestring’s food pantry. On March 31^st, students delivered 4 vehicles worth of cans to Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center on Bailey Avenue.

Pictured from L-R: (Front row) Lorraine York, Casey Edwards, OS’ Food Pantry Manager Katherine Crowley, Katherine Lindell, and Mary Mikel Lampton (Back Row) Jack Strahan, Patton Henley, Patterson Fenelon, Turner Brown

As part of their monthly day of community workshops, the Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 2007 – 2008 attended a forum staged at Operation Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center on Bailey Avenue last Wednesday. Rhea Williams-Bishop and Katie Tonore spoke with and answered questions from class members regarding childhood education in Mississippi.

Rhea works for the Children’s Defense Fund as the Executive Director of Mississippi’s chapter of SPARK – Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids. SPARK works with initiatives and organizations to prepare those children rising into school age. Katie serves as the Director of Program Implementation for the Barksdale Reading Institute. By placing trained specialists in targeted schools around the state, the Institute provides focused instruction of reading skills.

Directed by Shirley Tucker, Leadership Greater Jackson is a program of the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce. By educating class members on the intertwining aspects of civic life, LGJ provides a sound foundation for developing enlightened community leaders. Several members of Operation Shoestring’s Board of Directors are graduates of Leadership Greater Jackson. Additionally, Shoestring Executive Director Robert Langford is a graduate and former Chairman of the Board of LGJ.

On Thursday March 14^th, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School invited a group from Operation Shoestring’s Project KIDS to experience Earth Balloon. The 20-foot, fan-inflated, hand-painted globe travels the country to offer students a thumbnail of geology’s big picture. SA Director of Global Studies Chris Harth organized the presentation from Chicago-based Whereabouts, Inc.

After a short introduction, Dr. John Pacay led the group of 4^th and 5^th graders inside the balloon. As they gazed in amazement, the children learned about the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and fault lines via handheld visual aides – as well as the giant one in which they were sitting.

Pictured Left to Right: Victoria Williams, Spirit Smith, Corey Taylor, Pablo Willims, and Brandon Burns

Pictured clockwise from top left: Pablo Williams, Victoria Williams, Dr. John Pacay of Whereabouts, Inc, Brandon Burns, Spirit Smith, Corey Taylor, and Analisha Coleman

As a service project, St. Andrew’s first graders collected a literal truck-load of school and art supplies for Operation Shoestring’s Project KIDS afterschool program. Out of gratitude, Operation Shoestring presented the SA first graders with a custom decorated cross and a king-sized ‘thank you’ note.

Pictured from left to right: Back Row – First grade teacher Anne Ranck, Isabella Fraser, Oliver Westover, Abigail Pittman, Lindsey Moriarity, and first grade teacher Pat Sudduth. Front Row – Gray Alston, Venice Williams, and Isabella Overby.

On Thursday February 28^th, Operation Shoestring’s Project KIDS celebrated Black History Month by staging “We Are the People: Past, Present, and Future” at Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center on Bailey Avenue. The afternoon began with Regions Bank formally donating books to Operation Shoestring’s library. They presented copies of Toni Morrison’s Remember: The Journey to School Integration, Ruby Bridges’ Through My Eyes, and Nikki Giovanni’s Rosa [Parks].

Pictured from right to left are Regions’ Assistant Vice President of Business Banking LaRose Hunter, Eliza Smith, Shoestring Executive Director Robert Langford, Regions’ Regional Marketing Director Candie Simmons, Makayla Taylor, and Shoestring Board Member Chris Bell.